The Hillary and Donald Show
Fittingly, a polarized nation will have a polarized election between our two most polarizing politicians.
It’s a real reality show, with voters telling one, “You’re fired,” and the other, “You’re President.”
Trump can play his role in The Apprentice, and Hillary can reprise her bartender role from Saturday Night Live.
As always, voters will judge their characters. And one good lens for examining candidates’ characters is through their fathers.
Trump is the wealthy-born heir of a tough, ruthless businessman who made a fortune in New York City real estate. A lot to live up to, clearly.
Trump claims he built a fortune, but mainly he used his inheritance to build a brand based on his own flair for publicity. Everything has his name on it. Everything is the “best,” “biggest” or “most incredible.” He left a string of lawsuits, bankruptcies and bad blood in his wake.
As a candidate, he revels in his ignorance and arrogance. He has no known values, principles or political philosophy. His goal is to glorify his name and, one guesses, top his father.
Clinton is the do-good daughter of a hard-nosed, hard-to-please Republican father who also built a successful business. She was a Goldwater girl who became a classic late-60s activist-idealist, then an Arkansas Governor’s wife, then First Lady (“two for the price of one”), then Senator and Secretary of State.
She’s a grinder, and Trump is a shoot-from-the-hip guy.
She’s all substance, and he’s all flash.
She’s Illinois-Yale-Arkansas-Washington-New York-the world. He’s Manhattan, Atlantic City and Palm Beach.
She’s all due diligence, and his idea of deep policy study is watching “the shows.”
She’s the woman a lot of men can’t stand, and he’s the man a lot of women despise.
He’s the kind of guy who judges women by their boobs, butts and legs. She’s the kind of gal who has spent her life dealing with that kind of guy.
In the end, fittingly, this will come down to a televised reality show: the debates.
The conventional wisdom is that Trump’s act is made for today’s media world and that Clinton won’t be able to match his insults or counter his slipperiness.
But recall, if you will, her day-long, national-TV, high-stakes performance before the House Benghazi witch-hunt committee. Clinton bested a roomful of preening, arrogant and over-confident men.
Don’t underestimate the grinder’s ability to rise to the occasion.
It will be the ultimate reality show. For the highest stakes. Like the strength of America and the safety of the world.
The whole world will be watching.
The Hillary and Donald Show
Fittingly, a polarized nation will have a polarized election between our two most polarizing politicians.
It’s a real reality show, with voters telling one, “You’re fired,” and the other, “You’re President.”
Trump can play his role in The Apprentice, and Hillary can reprise her bartender role from Saturday Night Live.
As always, voters will judge their characters. And one good lens for examining candidates’ characters is through their fathers.
Trump is the wealthy-born heir of a tough, ruthless businessman who made a fortune in New York City real estate. A lot to live up to, clearly.
Trump claims he built a fortune, but mainly he used his inheritance to build a brand based on his own flair for publicity. Everything has his name on it. Everything is the “best,” “biggest” or “most incredible.” He left a string of lawsuits, bankruptcies and bad blood in his wake.
As a candidate, he revels in his ignorance and arrogance. He has no known values, principles or political philosophy. His goal is to glorify his name and, one guesses, top his father.
Clinton is the do-good daughter of a hard-nosed, hard-to-please Republican father who also built a successful business. She was a Goldwater girl who became a classic late-60s activist-idealist, then an Arkansas Governor’s wife, then First Lady (“two for the price of one”), then Senator and Secretary of State.
She’s a grinder, and Trump is a shoot-from-the-hip guy.
She’s all substance, and he’s all flash.
She’s Illinois-Yale-Arkansas-Washington-New York-the world. He’s Manhattan, Atlantic City and Palm Beach.
She’s all due diligence, and his idea of deep policy study is watching “the shows.”
She’s the woman a lot of men can’t stand, and he’s the man a lot of women despise.
He’s the kind of guy who judges women by their boobs, butts and legs. She’s the kind of gal who has spent her life dealing with that kind of guy.
In the end, fittingly, this will come down to a televised reality show: the debates.
The conventional wisdom is that Trump’s act is made for today’s media world and that Clinton won’t be able to match his insults or counter his slipperiness.
But recall, if you will, her day-long, national-TV, high-stakes performance before the House Benghazi witch-hunt committee. Clinton bested a roomful of preening, arrogant and over-confident men.
Don’t underestimate the grinder’s ability to rise to the occasion.
It will be the ultimate reality show. For the highest stakes. Like the strength of America and the safety of the world.
The whole world will be watching.